If you need more sleep than other people in your life, there could be a genetic reason for this according to new research.

A study from Edinburgh University and Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich has found that a number of people in Europe have a variation of a gene and this means that they need on average an extra 30 minutes of sleep each night.

Genetics affect our sleep patterns

More than 10,000 people in Europe took part in the study and it was found that those with a variation of the gene ABCC9 required more sleep each night. Like other genes, this is inherited.

The research was published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry and the research came from people in Croatia, Estonia, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Scotland.

Dr Jim Wilson, of the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Population Health Sciences, said: “A tendency to sleep for longer or shorter periods often runs in families despite the fact that the amount of sleep people need can be influenced by age, latitude, season and circadian rhythms. These insights into the biology of sleep will be important in unravelling the health effects of sleep behaviour.”

If you’re one of the people that requires more sleep every night, it is important to ensure that you have a comfortable luxury mattress to ensure that you wake up well-rested each and every morning. Here at the Odd Mattress Company, we produce bespoke and made to measure mattresses in custom sizes so you can get the perfect bed for you. Single, double, king and superking mattresses are available, as are custom sizes up to 7’6”, so you can a good night’s sleep each and every night.

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